Yo Mama Knits

May the gourds in heaven forgive me…I’ve cast on something else. In addition to Hanne Falkenberg’s Plisse and two handspun sweaters. It’s Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style. The original calls for Forever Random by Lalana Wools, but I’m using Noro Silk Garden 239.

Since the gauge on the original yarn on size 10.5 needles was 14 st/4 inches, and I’m getting 18 st/4 inches on 8’s, I’ve added an additional rectangle to compensate for the thinner yarn and smaller gauge. The work so far measures 21 inches wide unblocked, but you just know that it’s going to relax into about 23 to 24 inches once washed. It looks like it wants to, anyway. I don’t like blocking entrelac, per se, as I don’t like it to lose its texture. I’m also thinking that this stole will behave like many of my scarves, and stretch more lengthwise than widthwise when worn.

This is my first venture into entrelac. I do know how to knit backwards, which is enormously helpful for a project like this. Knitting backwards is also helpful when knitting on mass transit, because turning the work is usually when I manage to either drop something on the floor or accidentally give my sleeping neighbour an elbow to the ribs. Sometimes they deserve it, sometimes not, but I’d rather not start my work day with a punch in the nose.

Lady Eleanor is almost blanket-like, if knit to the dimensions in the pattern. I like the heft and size of it so far, as it’s a pleasing change from the diaphanous lace that I sometimes knit for shawls. If it’s too big, I’ll call it an airplane blanket and then it’s will be just perfect.

Why cast on now? Well, startitis has been worse than usual over the past few months. I’m on the waitlist for some safe-but-terribly-inconvenient surgery, so every other little annoyance in life takes on extra significance. To compensate, I spin and knit and buy materials with less restraint. Case in point — some Rowan Kidsilk Haze may have followed me home the other day. Before breaking into the Kidsilk crack, however, it’s best that I knit up the Silk Garden that threw itself into my knitting bag last time I was at one of my favorite yarn haunts, Three Bags Full. I do have standards of some kind, after all.

I’m pleased to present a recent sweater design. It’s called Amphoras.

Amphoras is knit from the top down in a simple lace pattern from fingering-weight Colourmart cashmere. I took these photos in warm weather, so I’m wearing it over a t-shirt and a summer dress, but it has also served me well this winter over long-sleeved shirts.

The cashmere is luxurious, of course. It’s light and airy but incredibly warm. The addition of all those lacey holes hits the warmth balance about right, in my humble opinion. A fingering-weight cotton or linen would also work very well.

The pattern isn’t available just yet, but I’m hoping to write it up soon. I submitted this design to a few of the usual suspects for possible publication, but so far no takers. So my plan right now is to offer it for sale here on the blog. Let me know if it’s something you could see yourself knitting. I need feedback.
While writing up the pattern in my size wouldn’t take long at all — it’s a fairly simple design — it’s the sizing that takes a bit of thought and planning. I’ll also need a test knitter or two to ensure that I’ve got the numbers right before I’d feel right selling the pattern.

Thought you’d want to know what I’ve been up to anyway. I have much more to share on the spinning front, but will have that for a different day.

Go here. See new book by Amy and Gillian. Now available for pre-order. Should be available by April 1.

See cover sweater.

Is mine. As in, my design. My knitted sample. Pride.

And Gillian was right about the colour all along. I originally wanted a pastel blue or purple, due to customary fear of any colour named “magenta”. I hereby eat those words.